King's Cup: Semi-final talking points as priorities take hold and Yahya Al Shehri explodes

Here are the major talking points:

FINDING YOUR FOCUS

Thinking time is a luxury for any coach at this stage of the season.

Fixtures, across multiple competitions, are coming with daunting frequency. Hilal, alone, are undertaking the eighth of nine matches in April, against Taawoun.

Nassr and Ittihad have joined them in coming fresh off the back of midweek exertions in the 2019 AFC Champions League.

In comparison, Taawoun’s last commitment was a 2-0 triumph against Al Qadsiah all the way back on April 12. This continued their push under ex-Porto defender Pedro Emanuel for a cherished spot in the continental tournament’s 2020 edition.

Where the King’s Cup fits into this mixture provides intrigue.

Hilal are locked in a fierce battle with Riyadh rivals Nassr for SPL success, while both are determined to go deep in the ACL. The latter currently hold a flimsy one-point advantage at the top, which they’ll lose if Hilal win Monday’s game in hand – also against Taawoun.

A draining period, physically and mentally, for both title contenders may tell this weekend. Plus, Hilal’s repeat date with Taawoun – a game that should decide the SPL’s destiny – only 72 hours later will further strain a drained squad.

Ittihad escaped the drop zone for the first time in a, largely, torrid 2018/19 thanks to April 13’s consequential 3-2 triumph against Nassr.

A three-point gap to the relegation play-off is comforting, but not entirely comfortable. It has also taken huge effort from rehired boss Jose Luis Sierra to ring an essential six-match unbeaten spell together.

Taawoun have also strained to lose once in their last 10 SPL matches, moving to within one point of the top with victory versus Hilal on Monday.

Which members of this quartet can go again?

MEASURED MAMIC

After the drama, rampant rumour and recriminations which came after last Friday’s late defeat in the Zayed Champions Cup showpiece versus Tunisia’s Etoile du Sahel, a result that denies an unprecedented sweep of five trophies, Hilal boss Zoran Mamic was not taking any risks with an immediate ACL outing.

A five-man defence was wheeled out against Iran’s Esteghlal on Tuesday. An uninspired, but vital, 1-0 victory in Abu Dhabi was notched.

This limited approach might have been a response to continued fitness problems with his centre midfielders.

Alternatively, it either was a direct result of the 2-1 loss in the reverse leg or it was simply a means to conserve valuable energy with a conservative game plan.

Mamic got his tactics spot on then, and he’ll need to be just as sharp again in the coming days to prevent discord reaching critical mass about his mixed three-month reign.

A TIMELY REMINDER

A once-pivotal figure had drifted into the background at Nassr.

Yahya Al Shehri’s half-season spent on loan at La Liga’s Leganes in 2017/18 was then immediately followed by the SPL’s foreign splurge last summer.

Substitute appearances recorded in double digits during this term’s top flight point to an uncomfortable insignificance.

Morocco winger Nordin Amrabat’s recent injury has offered fresh opportunity. It has been gleefully accepted.

Tuesday’s 2-1 ACL win at Iraq’s Al Zawra’s featured a goal and assist from Al Shehri.

Such renewed influence would be welcomed by boss Rui Vitoria at King Abdullah Sports City.